Yankees closer Rivera vows to return

Yankees closer is shown respect

Already in the twilight of a Hall of Fame career, it was feared Mariano Rivera would not be able to conclude it on his own terms after the Yankees’ 42-year-old closer suffered a season-ending knee injury while shagging fly balls during batting practice Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo.

Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament and damaged the meniscus in his right knee during batting practice, which had been part of his weekly routine. But an emotional Rivera was uncertain after Thursday’s game if the injury meant the end of his glittering career, in which he established himself as the all-time leader in saves with 608.

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